Beginner Developing 828 Film from a Kodak Bantam Colorsnap 3

Jon Kincaid

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I recently bought three p&s cameras in their original boxes from fleabay, one of which was a Kodak Bantam Colorsnap 3 from the early 60's, it's in lovely condition and I realised that it still had film in it! Apparently it's 828 film, which is paper-backed and now obsolete.

I've only just joined the forum having got into film photography over the last few months (and am already starting to suffer from GAS) but I haven't gone down the home-developing route quite yet.

Basically I'd love to know if there's anything on the film and wondered if anyone who does home developing wants the film?
 
I'd take it off ya hands and develop it but as I'm in France the postage probably aint worth it tbh

I'm sure there'll be someone more local to you who would like it though.

The Bantams are nice little cameras and if you wish to, you can manipulate 35mm to work in them.
 
That would be good, any idea how? Presumably you need to keep the existing spool etc? And then home process I guess?
 
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yep ensure the film is fully wound to the end, unload in subdued light keeping the film / paper titghtly wraped ...tape it with a bit of cellotape as the original sticky is probably not sticky anymore, then send it to whoever you're going to send it to on its original spool.
 
for anyone, other than me lol, that's interested in developing this film, but don't know how to, simply soup it in a 1/100 solution ( LC29, Rodinal HC-110 etc) for an hour agitating for 30 secs or so at the begining then a few inversions at half hour ( semi stand development). If any results are visible, they will lack contrast but PP will help pull it back
 
I meant the manipulating of 35mm. Would it need to be transferred onto an 828 spool (and have a paper backing added)?
 
I meant the manipulating of 35mm. Would it need to be transferred onto an 828 spool (and have a paper backing added)?

ah ok sorry i didn't realising you were talking about that :D

yes you will need original spools, one for the film and one as take up spool.

Original backing paper wud be good but any backing paper cut to size will do
 
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I'm sure whoever developes the original film will return the spool to you ...if you ask nicely:D
 
for anyone, other than me lol, that's interested in developing this film, but don't know how to, simply soup it in a 1/100 solution ( LC29, Rodinal HC-110 etc) for an hour agitating for 30 secs or so at the begining then a few inversions at half hour ( semi stand development). If any results are visible, they will lack contrast but PP will help pull it back
Can it be done in a normal Patterson tank?... ie 35mm/120 spools?. I've never heard of 828 film
 
Can it be done in a normal Patterson tank?... ie 35mm/120 spools?. I've never heard of 828 film
yep

edit giv me a minute to double check as its ages since i looked at 828 film
 
yep

edit giv me a minute to double check as its ages since i looked at 828 film

Ahhh ok, thanks Asha... well, in that case I don't mind having a go if you reckon it's simple enough to do.
 
Was just off looking at that very site when I came back to check on responses! I think it's way beyond a newbie like me but I'll hang on to the camera in case I get more confident down the line. I can see this turning into a bit of an obsession (my wife already thinks so!)

I got a digital slr for Christmas too, so I have a foot in each camp at the mo!

I've already collected 8 film cameras in the last two months. Four of which are simply from mentioning it to people I meet (I go to people's home fixing PCs etc) and there's happy that their "obsolete" cameras are going to a good home. Picked up an Olympus Pen ee-2, an OM1-n, two Canon T90s (same chap, former pro photographer). My son is starting A-Level photography later in the year and needed a 35mm slr. It's the simple things that start an obsession!!!
 
yep it'll spool onto a 35mm patterson reel tho be warned it will be seriously curly and probably spring off when you're loading it....assuming of course that you're offering:p
 
yep it'll spool onto a 35mm patterson reel tho be warned it will be seriously curly and probably spring off when you're loading it....assuming of course that you're offering:p

Yes, I'd be happy to give it a go...
 
Early start in the morning so I'll look back tomorrow and get in touch with anyone interested. I'm in Woking if anyone is local.
 
Ahhh ok, thanks Asha... well, in that case I don't mind having a go if you reckon it's simple enough to do.


I've semi stood film in the three chemicals listed above in my posting but tbh I'm pretty sure semi stand will work in just about any developer.

Mix the concentrate 1 / 100 solution and develop like you would any other 35mm b&w film at 20°c except for te following points:

Only agitate at the beginning and half way through the process ( ie 30 mins)

Use WATER for the STOP ...acid fixer will be too much of a shock for the old emulsion. One rinse of water will be sufficient then fix and wash as normal


The temp may vary a degree or two in the hour period...no big deal, it'll be fine
 
Early start in the morning so I'll look back tomorrow and get in touch with anyone interested. I'm in Woking if anyone is local.

There you go, looks like you're sorted (y)
 
Early start in the morning so I'll look back tomorrow and get in touch with anyone interested. I'm in Woking if anyone is local.
Hi Jon, I'd be happy to give it a go, although I'm not local to you as I live in Devon. So, if no one else comes forward and you're happy to post it... then you can get back to me.
 
Jon

What film is it. 828 film was available in a number of emulsions. Kodak Verichrome Pan was the only B&W film available. various guises of Kodacolor was the colour neg product and even Kodachrome was sold in 828. I'm not sure if either Ilford or Agfa did film for 828 as it was a rather niche format
 
Jon

What film is it. 828 film was available in a number of emulsions. Kodak Verichrome Pan was the only B&W film available. various guises of Kodacolor was the colour neg product and even Kodachrome was sold in 828. I'm not sure if either Ilford or Agfa did film for 828 as it was a rather niche format

Yes a good point that it could easily be colour film however cross processing in semi stand developing as already discussedcwill offer similar results.

To try obtain colour results will be pretty much a non starter.

As for 828 film, ilford produced it in FP3 and HP3 which, unless i'm very mistaken, were black and white film.!
 
My Winter 1960/61 Photomart is rather confusing in the black and white section, but it appears that at that date the following films were available in 828:

Black and white
Coronet (goodness knows who made this one - Coronet made cameras, and I have one of their box cameras), Ilford (uncertain about the formatting of the columns - could be HPS) and Kodak Tri-X. Prices ranged from 2/- (10p) for the Coronet up to 2/9d (14p) for Kodak.

Colour:
Ilfachrome Daylight (reversal), Kodacolor, Kodachrome. Prices were fairly consistent at about 12/2d (61p).

My first camera took 828 film; the Coronet mentioned above was my second camera.
 
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